DU Beats Michigan 3-2 To Win Snoopy Tourney

The Clash of the Titans II
Denver Pioneers vs. Michigan Wolverines

Editor's Note: DJ Powers of Hockey's Future was in California last week covering the Snoopy Senior World Hockey Tournament. For the second straight year she agreed to write a series of articles for LetsGoDU about the DU Pioneers, an alumni team made up of former DU players from the Murray Armstrong era. We can't thank DJ enough for her outstanding coverage of the event.

The Tournament was founded by Peanuts creator Charles Schultz in 1975 and brings together hockey players between the ages of 40-75. (Video Link about Tournament)

Special to LetsGoDU
By DJ Powers

In hockey, it is said that revenge is a dish that is best served cold. For the Denver Pioneers, that dish couldn’t have tasted any sweeter than it did on Sunday morning when they defeated tournament nemesis the Michigan Wolverines to capture the gold medal in the 60A “Marcie” Division by a score of 3-2 (all skaters are over 60 years old).

Every year in the Snoopy Tournament, the Denver/Michigan game has always been one of the best and most hotly contested matches and it was no different this year.

Prior to the game, Denver got some bad news when forward Norm Kvern wasn’t able to go due to a back injury.

The pace of the game was set from the moment that the puck dropped and it wasn’t long after that the intensity level would gradually begin to get ratcheted up.

The first good chance on goal for Denver came about four and half minutes into the opening stanza when Pat Halas went in on a partial breakaway but just couldn’t finish.

Things began to get heated with matching minors being assessed at the 7:57 mark.

When the Wolverines were able to successfully execute their attack into the Pioneers zone, goaltender Tom Jones was there to make sure the puck stayed out. Denver’s stifling defense and aggressive forecheck throughout the game proved to be keys in effectively slowing down Michigan’s speed and limiting their opportunities.

Denver’s offensive attack came in consistent waves throughout the period. However, their inability to finish was becoming problematic. That was compounded by the fact that Michigan got some very good goaltending from Greg Page.

One of the best chances for the Pioneers in the period came at about the midway point when Bill Pettinger’s shot rung off of the crossbar.

While Denver had momentum on their side, it would be Michigan that would draw first blood. Jack Norqual’s shot at the 18:23 mark beat Jones five-hole for the score.

With time winding down in the first period, Denver began to furiously attack the Wolverines net, but Page was there to shut the door, making several outstanding saves.

The second period opened with both teams coming out with good jump. The Wolverines were getting more scoring opportunities but once again the Pioneers defense wouldn’t let up.

As the period progressed towards the midway point, the physical play really began to pick up, particularly with Michigan.

The hard work that the Pioneers had put into their offensive efforts would finally pay off at the 8:27 mark. Tom Miller punched home the rebound for the equalizer.

Denver continued to relentlessly attack the Michigan zone, but Page continued to stand tall in the Wolverines net.

The Pioneers would take the lead at the 14:24 mark. Pettinger drove down the sideboards before cutting in front of the net. After getting to the net, he kept trying to get the puck behind Page, before finally succeeding for the score.

When play resumed, Michigan mounted a fierce attack, getting several good shots on goal, but had nothing to show for it.

At the 19:24 mark, the Wolverines would have the opportunity to get the equalizer on the power play when Miller was called for a trip.

The final period opened with Michigan on the power play for another almost two and a half minutes. [NOTE: Minor penalties in the Snoopy Tournament are three minutes long].

About a minute into the period, a turnover by Michigan nearly proved to be costly when Wayne Wiste got the puck, proceeded to skate up the ice with defenseman Blake Emery hustling to join the rush to create a shorthanded, odd-man situation, but was unable to finish the play.

After successfully killing of the penalty, Denver went back to work on trying to add an insurance goal to maintain the lead. But Michigan wasn’t about to go quietly. The Wolverines continued mounting good offensive attacks only to have the Pioneers’ aggressive forechecking and unyielding defensive play neutralize them. The Wolverines did an excellent job of utilizing their team speed, but the stifling Denver defense gave them little skating room for which to work with.

One of the best opportunities for the Wolverines to tie the game came around the midway point when a shot fired from in close nearly beat Jones. The Pioneers netminder was able to corral the puck just before it crossed the goal line.

Denver would get another opportunity to extend their lead at the 11:56 mark, when Bob Boysen was called for holding the stick.

It took just 23 seconds into the man-advantage for the Pioneers to capitalize, when Miller forced Page to commit first before flipping a shot up and over the Michigan netminder for the score.

Denver would get the opportunity to put the game out of reach when Michigan’s Alex Hood was called for interference at the 14:19 mark.

As well executed as their previous power play was, Denver couldn’t quite get this one to go, thanks in part to some great work by the Michigan defenders.

In a game of this magnitude, bad mistakes in your own zone can be costly, especially while on the power play. And that became quite apparent on Michigan’s next goal. Red Berenson gained possession, then curled in and flipped a beautiful backhander over Jones for the shorthanded tally.

The score was now 3-2 Denver.

With time winding down and the prospect of being unable to successfully defend their gold medal, Michigan began to throw everything at the Denver net in an effort to get the equalizer. With just over a minute left in regulation time, the Wolverines pulled Page for the extra attacker. As the clock ticked down to end the game, the entire Pioneers team did whatever it took to hold on for the win.

And when the final buzzer sounded, it produced two very different scenes on the ice – the jubilation of the Denver Pioneers at one end, and the frustration of the Michigan Wolverines at the other.

BOX SCORE

First Period:
Michigan (1-0) Jack Norqual (Larry Covitz) [18:23]

Second Period:
DU (1-1) Tom Miller (John MacMillan) [8:24]
DU (1-2) Bill Pettinger (Tom Miller, John MacMillan) [14:04]

Third Period:
DU (1-3) Tom Miller [PPG-GWG] (John MacMillan, Bob Brawley) [12:19]
Michigan (2-3) Red Berenson [SHG] (Unassisted) [16:24]

Power Play Conversions:
Michigan: 0-for-2
DU: 1-for-3


DU Snoopy Tournament Notes

Denver’s tournament win over Michigan on Sunday was their first since 2004.

In their three tournament games, Denver outscored their opponents by a combined score of 19-6.

Tom Miller led Denver in overall tournament scoring with nine points (three goals, six assists)

Pat Halas and Bill Pettinger led Denver in tournament goal scoring with five each.

Miller and John MacMillan led Denver in tournament assists with six each.

Norm Kvern and Tom Jones were the only Pioneers held without a point in the tournament.

- DJ Powers Staff Writer - NCAA

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[And your humble DU Snoopy Tournament correspondent]